At the height of his uneasy anticipation, he heard the Imperial Scholar Wang, who had been drinking with Fei Xing earlier, voice high and jovial, saying: "Congratulations, Brother Hu, Brother Wu!"
Hu Zhonghua and Wu Chaoping had yet to finish scanning the list of names when they heard this. They breathed a sigh of relief, figuring no matter what, they must have passed, and had at least gained the title of Imperial Scholars.
Before their jubilation even peaked, they heard Scholar Wang saying: "Well, I shouldn't be addressing you as Brother Hu or Brother Wu anymore. It should be Top Scholar Hu and Wu Tanhua (Third Ranked Scholar)!"
That remark exploded over their heads like a thunderclap.
Wu Chaoping excitedly gripped Scholar Wang's hand, "Surely, you're not joking. Could someone like me really rank as Tanhua?"
After all, he was notorious for being among the lowest ranked from Huzhou.
Scholar Wang chuckled, "Would I lie about such a thing? Take a look for yourself!"
